science

Linguistic frame of reference

Linguistic frame of reference is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Linguistic frame of reference rather than just read about it. In short: Linguistic frame of reference is a frame of reference as it is expressed in a language. A frame of reference is a coordinate system used to identify the physical location of an object.

Key takeaways

Linguistic frame of reference belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Linguistic frame of reference to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Linguistic frame of reference from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Linguistic frame of reference is a frame of reference as it is expressed in a language. A frame of reference is a coordinate system used to identify the physical location of an object. In languages, different frames of reference can be used. They are: the relative frame of reference, the intrinsic frame of reference, and the absolute frame of reference. Each frame of reference in a language can be associated with distinct linguistic expressions.

Classification of frames of reference

Intrinsic frame of reference Intrinsic frame of reference is a binary spatial relation in which the location of an object is defined in relation to a part of another object (its side, back, front, etc.). For instance, "The cat is in front of the house" means that the cat is at that part of the house that is its front, the side of the house that faces the street and has an entrance and maybe a porch.

Absolute frame of reference Absolute frame of reference is also a binary system in which the location of an object is defined in relation to arbitrary fixed bearings, such as cardinal directions (North, South, East, West). For instance, “The cat is to the south of the house” has the location of the cat described independently of the position of the speaker or of any part of the house (as in intrinsic frame of reference). Apart from cardinal directions, fixed bearings such as seacoast, upriver/downriver, and uphill/downhill/across are also used.

Relative frame of reference Relative frame of reference is a ternary system. The location of an object is expressed in relation to both the viewpoint of the perceiver and position of another object. Thus, “The cat is to the left of the house” refers to three points of reference: the cat, the house, and the perceiver himself.

Use of different frames of reference

People can use multiple frames of reference in communication. For instance, in English, all three are available and used, but the use of absolute frame of reference is limited to topographic objects ("Finland is to the east of Sweden"). The preferred frame of reference is the relative one. Languages that rely largely on absolute frame of reference include many Australian aboriginal languages (e.g., Arrernte, Guugu Yimithirr) and some Mayan languages (e.g., Tzeltal). In Guugu Yimithirr, there is no way to say "The cat is to the left of the house," and the only way to describe the location of the cat in relation to the house is "The cat is to the south of the house." Examples of languages that rely largely on intrinsic frame of reference are Mopan (another Mayan language) or Totonac (a language cluster of the Totonacan family). The use of different frames of reference has a far-reaching effect on cognition. For instance, to be able to communicate in a language with absolute frame of reference, speakers have to run a kind of mental compass. A remarkable neurocognitive capacity allows speakers to identify cardinal directions, even in unfamiliar locations.

Notes and references

Notes

References Danziger, Eve (March 1996). "Parts and Their Counterparts: Spatial and Social Relationships in Mopan Maya". The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 2 (1): 67–82. doi:10.2307/3034633. JSTOR 3034633. Levinson, S.C. (2003). Space in language and cognition. Cambridge: Cambridge UP. Majid, A; Bowerman, M; Kita, S; Haun, D. B.; Levinson, S. C. (2004). "Can language restructure cognition? The case for space" (PDF). Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 8 (3): 108–114. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2004.01.003. hdl:2066/57358. PMID 15301750.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Linguistic frame of reference

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Linguistic frame of reference claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Linguistic frame of reference before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Linguistic frame of reference ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Linguistic frame of reference

In research: Linguistic frame of reference appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Linguistic frame of reference in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Linguistic frame of reference is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Cognitive linguistics, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Linguistic frame of reference outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Linguistic frame of reference in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Linguistic frame of reference means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Linguistic frame of reference out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Linguistic frame of reference in simple terms?

Linguistic frame of reference is a frame of reference as it is expressed in a language. A frame of reference is a coordinate system used to identify the physical location of an object.

Why does Linguistic frame of reference matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Linguistic frame of reference?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Linguistic frame of reference.